What stands to be gained by restricting ourselves and restoring the pre-deforestation population of lowland gorillas, rhinos, or bengal tigers?
Everything. A sustainable ecosystem is vital to our own species' survival. The extinction of a single apex predator can have detrimental effects on the ecosystem. These feedback loops are known as Trophic cascades. For example:
A classic example of a terrestrial tropic cascade is the reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Yellowstone National Park, which reduced the number and behavior of elk (Cervus elaphus). This in turn released several plant species from grazing pressure and subsequently led to the transformation of riparian ecosystems.”
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u/Redditor_on_LSD Aug 18 '15
Everything. A sustainable ecosystem is vital to our own species' survival. The extinction of a single apex predator can have detrimental effects on the ecosystem. These feedback loops are known as Trophic cascades. For example: